Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The typical shingle roof will last 20 years, more or less depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will last longer, but are also more expensive to install.
The amount and quality of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or extend the time between new roof replacements. If you are good about caring for your roof, you might end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the attention it needs.
Installing a new roof is very expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re a lot better off doing maintenance and minor repairs as they arise in order to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the idea of climbing a ladder – you can always hire a licensed, certified roofer in Santa Ana to help you with all your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the most affordable route to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a couple of preventative care recommendations for your home’s roof:
Cut tree branches that hang over your roof. High winds and rain can break tree branches and even push over whole trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they’re not pruned. Falling limbs ruin all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install rain gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers installed on top of your rain gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning that you have to do and prevent rain flowing into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company in Santa Ana.
Have regular inspections. Shingles start to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or start to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a company will let you know if there’s a problem that has to be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings renew the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, helping your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifespan. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about applying these products on your home, where they will run off and be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation system are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation will lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors in your house. Besides being annoying, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other home materials, weakening your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll need to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll prevent leaks and extend the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these projects at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests building nests on your home’s roof, and it will renew the curb appeal. Santa Ana Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Santa Ana as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your rain gutters often, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that have to be removed. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it means that your roof is shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots can attach to shingles and other types of materials and ruin them if it isn’t removed fast enough. Typically homeowners opt to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but as long as you take care of them right away, no serious issues should result. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies in Santa Ana are certified to tackle these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in optimal condition.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt pieces attached to them. The texture can be knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain storms. These asphalt chunks help protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the section of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will also need to be replaced. The fascia can leak, allowing mold and mildew into your home, let alone pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in gaps on the roof where it is hard to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is needed, replacing the flashing is also an easy task for roofers and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is often the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only have to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up installing a lot of roofs during your lifetime.
When buying a new house, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the price of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a house, give Santa Ana Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Santa Ana to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.